Fall Veggies

Now that the weather seems to have broken and we continue to have cooler nights, it’s time to plant the cole crops; i.e., broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, kohlrabi, Brussels sprouts.

Fall Plantings

If you’re going to be going to the nursery to buy some plants for your yard, here are a few tips to help you get the most for your money.

· Buy only the plants that you definitely plan to plant almost as soon as you get home. It’s not good to leave them setting on the patio for 3-4 days or next weekend when you’ll have time to plant them.

· Cover the plants carefully when you take them home. Our warm days will dry them out very quickly if you take them home in the back of the pickup uncovered. If you have to do it this way, be sure to water them immediately when you unload them. Be sure to wet the leaves, too. They’re usually the driest part.

· Be sure to apply some type of liquid root stimulator when you set them out.

· Be sure to keep the new plants watered. Just because they’re identified as xeriscape plants, that doesn’t mean that they don’t need ANY water. Water them at least weekly for a few weeks until you see some new leaves. That means that they have their roots out. Then you can back off on the water.

· If it’s on sale, its season is probably over or almost over. Don’t buy it just because it’s on sale.

· If you haven’t done it yet, there is still time to add some organic matter to the soils in your beds and gardens…compost, peat moss, shredded tree leaves, or well-composted manure. It’ll make more difference than anything else you can do right now. If you have a tiller, work any or all of these ingredients into the soil as deeply as you can. 8-12 inches would be great. If you have clay soil where you live, you might wanna consider adding some WASHED sand along with the organic matter, but not without it.

If you haven’t done it yet, there is still time to add some organic matter to the soils in your beds and gardens…compost, peat moss, shredded tree leaves, or well-composted manure. It’ll make more difference than anything else you can do right now. If you have a tiller, work any or all of these ingredients into the soil as deeply as you can. 8-12 inches would be great. If you have clay soil where you live, you might want to consider adding some WASHED sand along with the organic matter, but not without it. Just remember that straw, clay and sand make up what is called “adobe” so be careful with this mixture.

Just FYI, let me remind you that compost that has been made the “hot” way is disease-free, weed- free, and does wonders for your gardens. In addition, it lasts from several months to years in the soil, holds moisture, “loosens” the soil to provide pathways for air and water, reduces the need for pesticides in your beds, provides the micro-nutrients plants need (not available in many chemical fertilizers), balances the acidity of the soil, and converts soil chemicals into a form that plants can take up and use. It’s hard to beat a deal like that.

The Lawn

Don’t fertilize the lawn grass yet. I’ll tell you when. It is time, however, to put out the pre-emergent herbicide. The nights have started cooling down and the seeds will be starting to germinate any time now. Get right on it.

Prune the Roses

A friend of mine, Ed Bradley is a rosarian from San Antonio. A while back I heard Ed speak about roses. I’ve known Ed for several years but had never heard him speak before. He did a great job and I got some really great information about roses. Probably the best thing I learned was that pruning is the most important aspect of rose-growing. It needs to be done both spring and fall. In February, you cut the plant down to about half its size. In September, you cut only about a third of it back. The roses bloom on the new growth, not old growth.

That means that it’s time to prune the roses to get ready for the fall blush of blooms. Prune them, fertilize with your favorite fertilizer, water it in really well and keep the soil moist. Get ready to be amazed.